GREATER PORTLAND INC ANNOUNCES UNPRECEDENTED FIVE-YEAR REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTION PLAN WITH JPMORGAN CHASE MAKING SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT TO IMPLEMENT THE PLANGreater Portland 2020 alignsbusiness, education and civic leaders to achieve economic prosperity for all across the region, and JPMorgan Chase Co. is providing resources to jumpstart the plan

Portland, Ore. (September 18, 2015) — Today at its Annual Economic Summit, Greater Portland Inc (GPI) rolled out the region’s economic development action plan. Known as Greater Portland 2020, the plan aligns the region’s business, education and civic leaders to achieve economic prosperity for all across the region.

“Greater Portland has tremendous potential to see more investment from companies looking to expand or grow their business,” said GPI president and CEO Janet LaBar. “But that investment is competitive and can go anywhere, so we need to make sure that our workforce, infrastructure, innovation capacity and business climate are in sync and performing at their highest levels. This is about creating the future we want, not the one that will be handed to us.” LaBar stated “Greater Portland 2020 requires leadership, action and investment from the community. I’m excited that JPMorgan Chase is stepping up and pledging $150,000 to make Greater Portland better so that we all benefit from a more prosperous economy.”

With an emphasis on equity and advancement of the region’s citizens, the plan focuses on three core strategies: People – Talent Development and Recruitment; Business – Growing Business and Pioneering Innovation; and Place – Infrastructure that meets the needs of people, business and innovation.

“At JPMorgan Chase, we are helping cities and metropolitan areas develop new and innovative ways to grow their economies and create economic opportunity for more people,” said Michael Hurley,Market Manager, Executive Director for the Oregon & SW Washington Region from JPMorgan Chase. “Aligned with the JPMC Global Cities Initiative, Greater Portland 2020, is a groundbreaking opportunity to unite public, nonprofit, and business leaders in the development and execution of a regional economic strategy that will allow the region to compete in the global economy. By working together, each of the region's communities stands to benefit from new jobs, shared knowledge, and a global economic reach."

“Greater Portland 2020 is the culmination of a 10-month process that engaged stakeholders from across the bi-state region in creating a plan that prioritizes what we need to transform Greater Portland’s competitiveness,” said Jim Piro, GPI Chairman of the Board and president and CEO of Portland General Electric. “For the first time the region’s business leaders and elected officials are working toward a shared vision of economic prosperity, and we have a roadmap in place for how we will get there. If we’re successful, then the quality of life we all enjoy will be augmented and additional investment from companies will follow.”

The plan calls for business organizations, industry associations, higher education institutions and local economic development practitioners across the region to lead various priorities and tactical items under each of the three strategies. Centered in Business, GPI will implement a regional approach to targeting traded-sector industries, work to make Greater Portland the best location for international investment and sharpen the region’s competitiveness for jobs and investment from target sectors. For more on Greater Portland 2020: www.greaterportland2020.com

About Greater Portland IncGPI is a regional partnership helping companies expand and locate to the Portland-Vancouver area, which includes seven counties and covers two states. Leveraging the region’s assets, GPI and its partners work in lockstep to nurture and recruit businesses that bolster the local economy and promote long-term job growth. www.greaterportlandinc.com